Presser foot roller with alignment feature

ABSTRACT

A pair of girth grooves are formed in the central portion of a presser foot roller. One groove is designed to guide and properly orient one row of teeth of a zipper. The other guide groove is for guiding and orienting the other row of teeth. A cylindrical presser surface is located endwise outwardly of each guide groove and a live axle is located endwise outwardly of each presser surface. A third girth groove is formed between the two guide grooves. This third girth groove has a transverse curvature closely matching the transverse curvature of a needle. The spacing between this needle groove and each zipper tooth guide groove axially of the roller is such that the sewing path established by the needle is properly spaced with respect to either row of zipper teeth passing through its guide groove during the sewing operation.

United States Patent [1 1v Howell PRESSER FOOT ROLLER WITH ALIGNMENT FEATURE [451 Aug. 28, 1973 Attorney --john 0. Graybeal, Delbert J Barnard et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A pair of girth grooves are formed in the central portion of a presser foot roller. One groove is designed to guide and properly orient one row of teeth of a zipper. The other guide groove is for guiding and orienting the other row of teeth. A cylindrical presser surface is located endwise outwardly of each guide groove and a live axle is located endwise outwardly of each presser surface. A third girth groove is formed between the two guide grooves. This third girth groove has a transverse curvature closely matching the transverse curvature of a needle. The spacing between this needle groove and each zipper tooth guide groove axially of the roller is such that the sewing path established by the needle is properly spaced with respect to either row of zipper teeth passing through its guide groove during the sewing operation.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures rnssssn roo'r ROLLER wmr ALIGNMENT FEATURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION sewing path or stitch line.

2. Description of the Prior Art Typical examples of known roller type presser feet are shown by U.S. Pat. No. 2,513,343, granted July 4, 1950 to Amelia Maxson; by US. Pat. No. 3,433,192, granted Mar. 18, 1969 to Domenick C. Pingitore et al.; and by my ownprior US. Pat. No. 3,511,200, granted May 12, 1970. I know of no prior patents or other prior art teachings or literature which relates to a manner of easily and visually gaging a roller type presser foot component so that a desired sewing path or stitch line will be established. 1

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION According to the invention, the presser foot includes a foot'component and means for attaching it to the presser bar of a sewing machine in. such a manner that the footv component can be adjusted laterally of the sewing'path established by the sewing machine needle. The foot component includes a presser roller which extends'transversely of the sewing path and in use is supported in a position forwardly of, or-toward's the sewing machine operator from, the machineneedle. The roller includes at least one girth groove for receiving and guiding an elongated article, such as a roll or chain of zipper teeth, a length of piping, or some other elongated article, and a presser surface portion spaced axially of the roller from said guide groove and adapted to pressdownwardly on the material or tape to which the zipper tooth chain or other elongated article is secured. This presser surface forces all layers of material being sewn downwardly into contact with the advancing mechanism of the sewing machine.

According to the invention, a girth line or groove is established on the roller axially between the guide groove and the presser surface. This line or groove is spaced axially of the roller such a distance from the guide groove that when it is aligned with the sewing machine needle the sewing path or stitch line is properly spaced relative to the row of zipper teeth or other elongated article which passes relatively through the guide groove.

"In preferred form the pre'sserroller includes a pair of guide grooves separately usable for guiding the two rows of zipper teeth present in a zipper, and two presser surfaces located axially outwardly of the guide grooves, in which such guidev grooves and presser surfaces are symetrically constructed about a single needle receiving girth line or groove which is positioned between the two guide grooves and is spaced from each of them an amount sufficient to establish a desired sewing path or stitch line regardless of which guide groove is being used.

Additional features of the invention will become apparent from the description of an illustrated preferred embodiment which follows.

BRIEF DESCRlPTlON OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a roller type presser foot component which includes a zipper installing type presser roller incorporating the present invention, such view including a broken line showing of afragmented lower end portion of a mounting shank; a

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the presser foot component of FIG. 1, showing a needle aligned-with an alignment groove formed in theroller; a 1' y 3 FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the foot, showing it being used for installing one side of an invisible or concealed type zipper, such view also including a broken line showing of the lower portion of a mounting shank; and

FlG. 4 is a view like FIG. 3, but showing the foot being used for stitching in the second side of the zipper.

DESCRlPTlON OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The presser foot assembly comprises a foot component l0 and a mounting shank 12. The foot component 10 includes a transverse slide bar 14 which is received in, and forms a slide joint with, a transverse slideway 16 formed at the lower end of the mounting shank 12. Reference is made to my US. Pat. No. 3,342,151, granted Sept. 19, 1967, for a thorough description of the slide joint, its purpose, its manner of operation, the manner in which the mounting shank 12 is secured to the presser bar of a sewing machine, and the relationship of the foot component with respect to the material on which it acts.

The presser foot of this invention has a presser roller 18 at its forward end. Roller l8'includes a central zipper tooth guide portion 20 flanked by a pair of relatively wide, cylindrical presser surfaces 22. A live a'xle 24 is provided at each end of the roller 18. The axles 24 serve to mount the roller 18 on the foot component 10 for relatively free, passive rotation. The axles are received in openings or sockets 26 formed in support tines 28 which project forwardly from the rest of the foot component. Preferably, but not necessarily, the roller 18 may be adapted for easy snap-in installation and snap-out removal from the foot component, so that it may be interchangeably used with other types of presser rollers. A channel or open area is provided in or longitudinally through the'foot component 10 rearwardly of the guide avenues 30, 32, for accommodating the zipper teeth.

According to the invention, the central region 20 of the roller 18 includes independently usable guide ave nues 30, 32 for receiving and guiding the two rolls of zipper teeth for a zipper.

The guide avenues roll the teeth over from the attitude they normally assume into a more desirable attitude for sewing. A short axial region is provided in the roller 18 between the zipper teeth avenues 30, 32 and a needle receiving groove 34 is formed in this portion of the roller 18.

As clearly shown by FIGS. 3 and 4, regardless of which side of the zipper is being installed the fabric tape 36 or 38 extends from the zipper tooth chain 40 or 42 under first the central region 34 and then under the presser surface 22 which is the furthest fromthe guide averlue 30 or 32 which is being used. The axial spacing of the zipper tooth avenues 30, 32 is such that when the needle groove 34 is centered between the guide avenues 30, 32 the center of such needle groove 34 coincides with the desired stitch line fiAccording to the invention, the needle receiving groove 34 is provided as a means for properly locating the guide avenues 30, 32 relative to the needle N so that a proper stitch line can be easily established.

According to the invention, the presser foot assembly is mounted on the sewing machine (not shown) and the foot component is slid sideways by the user until the needle N is centered with respect to the needle groove 34. Preferably, there is enough rearward give in the roller 18 so that this centering can be aided by the user pressing rearwardly somewhat on the roller 18 as he slides the foot 10 sideways, forcing the groove 34 around the needle N. When the needle N is centered with respect to the groove 34 (as shown by-FIGS. 3 and 4), either side of the zipper may be installed and the thread path will be properly positioned relative to the zipper teeth 40 or 42.

During installation of the zipper the user always has a close check on the position of the needle N relative to the guide avenue 30 or 32 being used, because he can visually check the alignment of the needle N with the needle groove 34.

Even though the roller of this invention has been described in connection with zippers, and as being de signed for handling zipper teeth, it is to be understood that the invention can also be used in a presser roller designed for installing piping or some other type of elongated article.

Having fully described a typical embodiment of the I invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is defined in the claims which follow.

What is claimed is;

l. A sewing machine roller type presser foot, comprising:

a foot portion including an opening for an oscillating sewing machine needle, and a presser roller carried by said foot portion having a girth groove formed in it for receiving and guiding an elongated article through the sewing region, a presser surface spaced axially of said guide groove,for pressing downwardly on a fabric member to which said elongated article is secured, and a needle positioning girth gage formed in said roller between said guide groove and said presser surface, said needle positioning girth gage being axially spaced from the guide groove such a distance that when the elongated article is being guided through the guide groove, and a sewing machine needle being used to sew into said fabric member is centered with respect to said girth gage, such needle will establish a sewing path at a predetermined desired spacing from the elongated article.

2. A presser foot according to claim I, wherein said girth gage is a second girth groove.

3. A presser foot according to claim 1, having a pair of girth grooves for receiving and guiding an elongated article, said grooves being configured to guide and I properly-orient the two rows of zipper teeth for a zipper, said roller including a presser surface spaced axially outwardly of each said groove, with said girth gage being located between the two guide grooves, so that it canbe usedfor positioning the needle relative to whichever of the two guide grooves is being used.

4. A presser foot according to claim 3, wherein said girth gage is itself a girth groove;

5. A presser foot according to claim 3, wherein said roller includes a relatively short live axle at each of its ends.

6. A presser foot according to claim 4, wherein said roller includes a relatively short live axle at each of its ends.

7. A presser foot for a sewing machine, including a foot portion including an opening for a vertically reciprocating sewing machine needle which in use is mounted for sideways adjustment relative to a sewing path established by the vertically reciprocating sewing machine needle, said foot component comprising means for supporting a presser roller transversely of the sewing path, in a position immediately forwardly of the needle, said presser roller having a girth groove formed in it for receiving and guiding an elongated article through the sewing region, a presser surface spaced axially of said guide groove, for pressing downwardly on a fabric member to which said elongated article is secured, and aneedle positioning girth gage on said roller between said guide groove and said presser surface, said girth gage being spaced axially of the roller from the guide groove such a distance that when an elongated article is being guided through the guide groove, and the needle being used to sew into said fabric member is centered with respect to said girth gage, such needle will establish a sewing path at a predetermined desired spacing from the elongated article.

8. A presser foot according to claim 7, wherein said girth gage is a girth groove in the roller.

9. A presser foot according to claim 7, having a pair of girth grooves for receiving and guiding an elongated article, said grooves being configured to guide and properly orient the two rowsof zipper teeth for a zipper, said roller including a presser surface spaced axially outwardly of each said groove, with said girth gage being located between the two guide grooves, so that it can be used for positioning the needle relative to whichever of the two guide grooves is being used.

10. A presser foot according to claim 9, wherein said girth gage is a girth groove in the roller.

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1. A sewing machine roller type presser foot, comprising: a foot portion including an opening for an oscillating sewing machine needle, and a presser roller carried by said foot portion having a girth groove formed in it for receiving and guiding an elongated article through the sewing region, a presser surface spaced axially of said guide groove, for pressing downwardly on a fabric member to which said elongated article is secured, and a needle positioning girth gage formed in said roller between said guide groove and said presser surface, said needle positioning girth gage being axially spaced from the guide groove such a distance that when the elongated article is being guided through the guide groove, and a sewing machine needle being used to sew into said fabric member is centered with respect to said girth gage, such needle will establish a sewing path at a predetermined desired spacing from the elongated article.
 2. A presser foot according to claim 1, wherein said girth gage is a second girth groove.
 3. A presser foot according to claim 1, having a pair of girth grooves for receiving and guiding an elongated article, said grooves being configured to guide and properly orient the two rows of zipper teeth for a zipper, said roller including a presser surface spaced axially outwardly of each said groove, with said girth gage being located between the two guide grooves, so that it can be used for positioning the needle relative to whichever of the two guide grooves is being used.
 4. A presser foot according to claim 3, wherein said girth gage is itself a girth groove.
 5. A presser foot according to claim 3, wherein said roller includes a relatively short live axle at each of its ends.
 6. A presser foot according to claim 4, wherein said roller includes a relatively short live axle at each of its ends.
 7. A presser foot for a sewing machine, including a foot portion including an opening for a vertically reciprocating sewing machine needle which in use is mounted for sideways adjustment relative to a sewing path established by the vertically reciprocating sewing machine needle, said foot component comprising means for supporting a presser roller transversely of the sewing path, in a position immediately forwardly of the needle, said presser roller having a girth groove formed in it for receiving and guiding an elongated article through the sewing region, a presser surface spaced axially of said guide groove, for pressing downwardly on a fabric member to which said elongated article is secured, and a needle positioning girth gage on said roller between said guide groove and said presser surface, said girth gage being spaced axially of the roller from the guide groove such a distance that when an elongated article is being guided through the guide groove, and the needle being used to sew into said fabric member is centered with respect to said girth gage, such needle will establish a sewing path at a predetermined desired spacing from the elongated article.
 8. A presser foot according to claim 7, wherein said girth gage is a girth groove in the roller.
 9. A presser foot according to claim 7, having a pair of girth grooves for receiving and guiding an elongated article, said grooves being configured to guide and properly orient the two rows of zipper teeth for a zipper, said roller including a presser surface spaced axially outwardly of each said groove, with said girth gage being located between the two guide grooves, so that it can be used for positioning the needle relative to whichever of the two guide grooves is being used.
 10. A presser foot according to claim 9, wherein said girth gage is a girth groove in the roller. 